Colorado Medicaid Receives Behavioral Health Planning Grant

DENVER, CO – The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services recently announced that Colorado Medicaid will receive a $982,372 planning grant to expand access to behavioral health by certifying community behavioral health clinics and exploring prospective payments for clinics that meet required standards. Colorado was one of 24 states receiving the funding.

“Improving access to behavioral health care is a critical need for Colorado and an important step towards being the healthiest state in the nation,” said Susan E. Birch, MBA, BSN, RN, executive director for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. “This funding will help us focus on improving the way we deliver and coordinate physical, mental and substance use disorder services.”

The funding is the first of a two phased process. The initial planning funding from November 2015 – September 2016 allows Colorado to examine services paid for by Medicaid to include a focus on veterans and their dependents. The funding will help develop an approach to align medical, mental health and substance use disorder services, enhance quality measure reporting, standardize clinic qualifications and improve the rate structures. After the initial phase of the process, Colorado could be invited to participate in a two year demonstration program.

About the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing: The Department administers the Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus programs as well as a variety of other programs for low-income Coloradans who qualify. For more information about the department, please visit Colorado.gov/hcpf.